Teaching Nature

Organised by Alexey Kuprijanov, e-mail: [log in to unmask]

For those understanding science as a complex system of production, or,
more precisely, of expanding re-production of knowledge, the history of
education is an integral part of the history of science. The textbooks
of Natural history, Zoology, Botany, and other biological disciplines
are a very promising but largely unexplored material for a historical
inquiry. The present session is aimed to discuss various topics
concerning natural history/ biology textbooks and, more generally,
natural history/ biology education. The time range covers a period from
the 2nd half of the 18th century to the present. Papers concerning
textbooks, lecture courses, institutional changes of the educational
system, and educational practices are welcomed. My interest to the
problem stems from a current research project on the Russian textbooks
of Natural history, Botany, and Zoology published within a period of
1786 through 1870-s. Possible topics for a discussion are as follows.

* How the natural history/ biology education contributes to shaping
popular attitudes towards Nature?

* How the Nature is represented in textbooks of Natural history, Botany,
Zoology, and other biological disciplines?

* How the status of biological sciences is construed in the textbooks?

* Which role textbooks play in the conceptual development of biological
sciences?

* Field excursions as an element of educational practices

Any further suggestions are appreciated.

Paper abstracts should be received no later than January 10, 1999. If
you are interested in contributing a paper to this session and/or
extending the list of topics to be discussed, please contact:

Alexey V. Kuprijanov
Institute for the History of Science and Technology
Universitetskaya emb. 5
St. Petersburg, 199034, RUSSIA

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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Alexey V. Kuprijanov
Institute for the History of Science and Technology
Universitetskaya emb. 5, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
E-mail: [log in to unmask]